Portia Bartel

ChildhoodA small bundle was found in the Twelveswood by a Hyur couple. They discovered an infant, a small Seeker kit, and adopted the baby as their own. Portia was raised by the Bartel family, wealthy nobles from Gridania. She had a very blessed childhood, growing up without want. She was raised as a lady, learning all the common talents such as music, art, literature, and crafting. Portia attended school, and when she was younger, was teased by the many Elezen and Hyur in her class, even fellow Miqo'te, because she didn't look anything like a Keeper. Due to the racism of the time, she tended to keep to herself, staying quiet and out of the way.

TeenageIn the last few years of her schooling, Portia finally came out of her shell, dismissing the snide comments made about her and became content in her life. She enjoyed reading and singing and flower-arranging.She grew up knowing that her role in life would be as a wife to a nobleman and have children. At her nineteenth year, she had still not been courted by any man, and her parents feared that she would not be taken care of after they were gone. When she was twenty, the very wealthy Lord Deavin Vantis asked her father for her hand.Portia does not care to speak of the things that happened to her during her engagement. Deavin turned out to be a cruel man, an owner of several female slaves, and a sadistic mind. He did unspeakable things to her, including an incident that caused the scar over her right eye and discolored iris. When it was discovered by a nursemaid that she was barren and could not produce heirs for Deavin, she knew her life here would be doomed. Portia ran in the night, and in doing so, angered Lord Deavin. For her insolence, he had her mother and father killed. When Portia discovered the bodies, she knew she would be on the run for the rest of her life, for fear he would find her and finish her off as well.

Young AdulthoodAfter going on the run, Portia studied conjurey as she traveled Eorzea and visited orphanages. She volunteered her time cooking, cleaning, and taking care of children in return for food and shelter. She also trained with the Lance in the deserts of Thanalan, spending time as an ally of the Amalj'aa and meeting Vanhi, her drake. Vanhi and Portia spent a lot of time together, especially during troubled times, and the two of them bonded strongly.The great Black Mage Zagi'zi Kumai came to her when she had all but given up on finding happiness. Plagued by the direction her life had taken her, Portia was at a loss for direction. Zagi'zi offered her a deal, to become his apprentice and follow every order no matter what. In return he would make decisions for her, and take all responsibility for her, so that she would no longer feel the guilt and pain of consequence.Portia began to study the art of thaumaturgy under Zagi'zi, doing all she could to make him proud. He urged her to take the next step in her life, and seek revenge for Lord Deavin's cruelty. Together, the two of them returned to the Vantis manor. Portia, in all of her rage and pain, killed every guard she found inside in cold blood. After finding Lord Deavin, she tortured him by dismembering him and burned him alive.It was around this time that Zagi'zi and Portia conceived, and Portia gave the news to her master of her pregnancy. She returned to her home in Gridania, and after being abandoned for 5 years, spent most of her time alone in the large house restoring it to its formal glory. Near the end of her pregnancy, Zagi'zi had Portia get ancient rune tattoos using the same aether-infused ink Scholars use. They covered her entire body, from neck to her wrists and ankles. He told her it would increase her magic's potency.Portia gave birth to hers and Zagi'zi's daughter, which she has named Luna Bartel. As the infant grew, Portia started hearing voices in her head, and a dark aura surrounded her daughter. She seemed to be getting sick, though healers could not find anything wrong with Luna. Getting weaker and weaker with each day, Zagi'zi returned from his research with an answer: A voidbeing named Hammond had entered Portia's body at Luna's conception and had been feeding off their energy, and had attached itself to Luna when she was born. The tiny baby's body could not sustain the voidbeing, however, which left Portia no choice. She willingly gave up herself in Luna's place, and let Hammond enter her and control her. She did not know this had been his plan all along, to have a willing and powerful host.While she could still fight back, Portia gave Luna to a trusted friend, A'to, even though she was only a few months old. Portia took off, unable to keep herself from Hammond's control. He used her body to seek out the descendants of everyone that had betrayed him and caused his demise, and with Portia's abilities, kill every last one of them.Even though things had gotten too far and innocent blood had been spilt, she was finally captured by her acquaintances at her free company, and she allowed them to chain herself up in the basement until answers could be found. A'to would visit with Luna every now and then, keeping a safe distance. She missed her first steps, and her first word, but knew that this was the only way to keep everyone safe.Zagi'zi finally returned with answers, after scouring an ancient library for old texts. A ritual was performed, and Hammond was ripped from Portia's body and the voidbeing was dragged back into the void by Zagi's ahriman. After all of this, he finally decided that it was better for all of them if Portia gave up her Black Mage studies, and he left her to raise their daughter in peace.A'to stepped in as a father to Luna, as he had been taking care of her and growing fond of her and Portia. They lived happily for a while, until a mysterious woman named Alice came forth and claimed that A'to was her perfect creation, a truly autonomous doll with a soul. At this point in time, however, Portia was already in love with him, and he with her. Although it could never last. After getting engaged, and starting to plan their lives together, A'to was wisked away by Alice on a dangerous mission, leaving behind a tiny mammet version of A'to to keep her company.Some time later, the mammet told her that A'to and Alice had failed their mission, and had perished. Portia was gutted by the death of her soon-to-be-husband, and was once again left alone.

• ‣ Portia gives herself up to Hammond to save Luna

• ‣ Portia does Hammond's bidding

• ‣ Portia learns of A'to's death